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University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections
CHOCTAW NATION MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
Ralls, Joseph G., Sr. (1864-1933) Papers 1870-1924 9.33 feet
Attorney. Correspondence (1870-1924) and legal case files (1890-1924) from Ralls's law practice, including those concerning his representation of Choctaw Indians during the allotment of Choctaw lands and townsite payments.
Boxes 1-22 contain general, incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning Joseph G. Ralls' career as an attorney, county judge, Republican Party official, first U.S. Commissioner in Atoka, Indian Territory (I.T.), and his service on the State Bar Board and the State Board of Education (ca.1915). The legal cases involve various subjects such as land allotments, divorce proceedings, Indian land claims, Indian enrollments and citizenship claims, intruders in Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian lands, railroad claims, etc.. Joseph G. Ralls maintained a law practice with his brother, G.T. Ralls, known as Ralls Brothers Attorneys and Counselors with offices at Atoka and Lehigh, I.T. and Oklahoma. In 1902-1903, Ralls served as a correspondent for the Associated Press. In this assignment, Ralls wired dispatches concerning the allotment of lands at the Choctaw Nation Land Office.
Ralls corresponded concerning various legal matters with clients, other attorneys, U.S. Congressmen, and such offices as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes. This collection includes much correspondence pertaining to legal matters in the Indian Territory. Ralls represented the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company in numerous matters, and also had dealings with the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad. While most of the correspondence is filed by the last name of the correspondent, much of the correspondence with the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes is filed under the letter "C".
Correspondents include Mary Agnew (Bureau of Pensions), J.E. Arnold (attorney, Ardmore, I.T.), W.H. Angell (Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes), G.W. Austin (Oklahoma College for Women), C.O. Barton (attorney, Pauls Valley, I.T.), Calvin Ballard (Dept. of Interior, Office of School Supervisor for Choctaw Nation), Tams Bixby (Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes), E.W. Berry (Third Regiment Band), S.M. Brosius (Indian Rights Association), S.T. Bledsoe (Commercial Law League of America), John D. Benedict (Office of Superintendent of Schools for I.T.), Webster Ballinger (attorney, Washington, D.C.), W.E. Butler (Oklahoma State Home), E.P. Barrett (Oklahoma School of Mines and Metallurgy), S.M. Barrett (Eastern University Preparatory School), W.I. Cruce (attorney, Ardmore, I.T.), James B. Cassada (Dept. of Justice, Choctaw and Chickasaw Citizenship Court, South McAlester, I.T.), C.M. Crowell